Wading Through the Maze That is Healthcare Coverage

11:30 PM

I am a horribly busy mom of four boys. I understand that all moms are busy, but I am the sole income in our household, and a full-time homeschool mom of all four boys and responsible for everything else that goes on in our home. I have very little time, and because of this, I tend to put off things that I find difficult or confusing. Unfortunately, one of these things happens to be healthcare. With the coming of the Affordable Care Act, the whole maze of healthcare coverage just seemed even more overwhelming, but the fact of the matter is, it can't be put off anymore.
I drag the boys all over the place each year, traveling about a third of the year to different states all over the country. They are in fact boys, so you never know what they will be "inventing" or jumping off of next. That makes it even more important to have coverage in the event of an unexpected accident. There is also the fact that there are penalties to be paid for not having coverage on your taxes each year as well. When you think about it, you just can't afford to put off wading through the healthcare coverage maze anymore. That's why I have taken the leap to find the coverage that works best to take care of my boys.

Deciphering the Affordable Care Act

Whether you agree with it or not, the Affordable Care Act has offered more insurance solutions to those not covered under insurance policies by their employers. What started as a way for companies to offer greater monetary gain to their employees in the early 1940's has now grown into something that is offered to all Americans whether they are employed by a business offering health insurance or not. A good thing for me, since I have been self-employed for over 10 years now. You can check out this video abouthealthcare reform and what it means for you for more information.

The ACA has also raised the Medicaid in some states, making more people eligible, and also offers healthcare subsidies to other income levels that are deemed to still be "struggling." As a single income household, this is the category that I fall into, making it possible for me to afford healthcare when I previously could not.

Purchasing a Plan That is Right for You

From now until February 15th, you can visit the Health Insurance Marketplace to price out different plans, see if you qualify for subsidies of any kind, compare plan benefits and purchase the one that would work best for you. Some important aspects you should consider when choosing the right plan include:

deductibles

co-pays

premiums

max out-of-pocket costs

a full list of items that are covered

When choosing a plan, you don't necessarily need to go with the highest priced plan that includes a lot of benefits your family would never use. Similarly, going with the lowest priced plan could lack important coverage that your family might need. Check out this video on Choosing a Health Plan for more information on what to look for, and if you are having a hard time deciphering some of the wording, this Health Insurance Glossary can define some common terms for you.

If you are like me, and have been putting off finding healthcare coverage because it seems like a huge maze that is impossible to find your way through, I urge you to take the first steps towards finding a plan today. Fewer things could be more important to your family than health care coverage should an unexpected illness or accident pop up. UnitedHealthcare has a wealth of information and resources on their website to help. Plus, when you're ready to look for a plan, the have a simple step by step program that can help guide you to finding the perfect coverage.

This is a partnered post, all opinions are my own.

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Kathleen is a homeschooling mom of four boys with a serious case of the Wanderlust bug. Her love of travel extends to her children, and has resulted in the family visiting 48 states to date, and traveling nearly a third of the year. She is the owner of LifeWith4Boys.com where you will find information on Family Travel, recipes, reviews, lifestyle and more.

Wow! I don't know how you do it all! I commend you. I hate dealing with things like healthcare choices and taxes. They are the 2 most confusing things that must be dealt with each year. Thanks for sharing the info...so important.